Switch-operating mechanism.



J. P. BLQAGKWOOD.

PATENIED JUNE 9, 190B.

SWITGHIOPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULYB. 1907- 4 sums-$112M 1.

WITNESZES I I %M [NVENTOR No. 890,326. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. LP. B'LAGKWOO-D. SWITCH OPERATING MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATIION rmm JULY s. 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[NVENTOR WITNESSES Tn: NORRIS Ptrsn: C0 WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 890,326. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

' J. P. BLAGKWOOD.

SWITGH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED JULYB. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

nu: NORRIS PzTERS C0" wAsmNcmu. n. 2.

N PATENTED'JU E 9 190.8.

0 4 J. P. BLA-GKWOOD. N

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED J LY 1 07. v

U 6 9 4,.SHEBTS-SHEET 4.-

| oL lv 1 1 Ii WITNESSES I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. BLACKWOOD, OF ATHENS, OHIO.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM. U

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. BLAGKWOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Athens, in the county of Athens, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-O crating Mechanisms; and I do hereby dec are the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to switch operating devices and more particularly to a device of this class designed for the purpose of closing an open switch at the a proach of a train.

It is a wellknown act that a number of serious accidents have been caused by switches being carelessly left open after the passage of a train and hence the object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for automatically closing a normally open switch before being reached by an on-coming train.

In carrying out my invention I have provided a device which under normal conditions locks the switch in open position and which is adapted for operation by a suitable trip mechanism, to release the switch after which the switch is moved automatically to closed position and held in this positionuntil manually restored to open position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention as applied to a switch, parts being broken away 01' shown in section to more clearly illustrate portions of the mechanism, Fig, 2 is a side elevation thereof the parts being in position for operation, Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of a portion of the mechanism showing the switch closed, Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the mechanism, the switch being in open position,'Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof showing the normal position of the parts in full lines and their position after the switch has been closed in dotted lines, Fig. 7 is a detail top plan view of a portion of the mech anism showing in full lines the normal position of the parts and in dotted lines their position after the switch has been closed, Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a still further embodiment of the invention, Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the mechanism embodied in this form of the invention, Fig. 10 is a side elevation in detail of a portion of this latter form of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1907.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Serial No. 382,449.

taneous movement and are as a matter of fact switch points. The switch points 16 are movable over long ties 17 and secured in any suitable manner upon these ties and opposite one of the main track rails 15 is a casing 18 which is open at its ends and is provided with an elongated o ening in the side which is presented toward the rail. J ournaled in suitable brackets upon the other side of the casing and within the same are rollers 19 which are flanged as at 20 for a purpose to be presently explained there being preferably a pair of these rollers. Studs 21 are secured an any suitable manner to the adjacent switch point 16 and project laterally therefrom and through openings in the web of the above mentioned main track rail 15 and j ournaled at the outer ends of these studs are rollers 22 which are also flanged and which correspond to the rollers 19.

As a matter of fact the rollersof each pair 19 and 22 are artween the two pairs of rollers and under such conditions the switch points may of course be made to assume a position to open the switch, it being understood that sliding movement of the block between the pairs of rollers will tend to separate the two pairs and in so doing the switch points will be simultaneously moved to close the switch.

Connected with the smaller end of the block 23 is one end of a cable 24 and this cable is connected at its opposite end to one end of a pair of spring compression devices 25 which are associated with a-spring 26. To the other one of these devices is connected the corresponding ends of a pair of pivoted jaws 27 between which is received a button 28 formed at one end of a cable 29. These jaws 27 have their opposite ends, between which the button is received and held, beveled for a purpose to be presently explained and the cable 29 passes through a wedge upstandin bracket 40 upon the plate.

shaped guide upon one end of a plate 31 the guide being fixed or formed upon the plate and the plate being bolted or otherwise secured upon one or more of convenient ties. After being passed through this guide 30, the cable 29 is assed over a pulley 32 j ournaled in a sui-tab e bracket 33 at the end of the plate opposite to that end 'at'which the guide 30 is located and is connected to the corresponding end of an arm 34 which is provided with a transversely extending pin 35 which latter normally seats in notches 36 formed in the forward edges of the spaced portions of the bracket 33. This arm extends forwardly above the plate 31 and rests upon a roller 37 which is j ournaled upon an angle arm 38 the said angle arm being pivoted as at 39 to an The function of this arm 38 will presently be fully stated. Pivoted to the forward or outer end of the arm 34 is a trip 41 which has a free swinging movement and a hooked upper end 42, the trip being normally held by the weight M ently of its lower end 43 in vertical position so that its hooked end may be engaged by a rod carried u on the pilot of an engine, to be pres- Hescribed.

Connected with the switch point 16 and extending laterally therefrom and beyond the main track rail 15 adjacent which the casing 18 is positioned, is a switch rod 44. This switch rod has free longitudinal move- '7 ment in the tubular portion 45 of a casting 46 tubular portion 45 and extends to the usual and another section 47 of the switch rod has a threaded engagement in one end of the said form of switch stand 48 from which the i switch points 16 may be moved when so desired. The casting 46 also includes a tubular extension 49 which is closed at one of its ends except for an opening 50 through which projects the stem 51 of a latch which is comprised of the stem and the head 52, the head being received in the tubular extension 49 for sliding movement and being engageable in a notch 53 formed in the section 44 of the switch rod. A spring 54 bears at one of its ends against the head 52 and at its opposite end against'the closed end of the tubular extension and serves to normally hold the head in engagement in the notch as stated above. Pivoted as at 55 to the tubular extension 49 at the outer end thereof is an arm 56 which is slotted as at 57 for the engagement therethrough of a pin 58 carried at the 7 this block 23 is adapted at times to engage the free end of the arm 56 and move the said arm to disengage the head 52 from the notch 53 as heretofore stated. Pivoted as at 60 upon one of the ties 17 is a rocking arm 61 and that portion of this arm which lies upon one side of its pivot point is curved as at 62 to extend around the pivoted end of the arm 56 and has journaled at its extreme end a roller 63 which works in a guide 64 forming a portion of the casting 46. Connected to the end of the other portion of this arm 61 is one end of a cable 65 and this cable is connected at its opposite end to the opposite arm of the angle arm 38. The inner end of the section 44 of the switch rod is beveled as at 66 so as to ride over the latch head 52 under conditions to be presently stated.

Supposing the switch to be in open position, the operation of the mechanism to close the switch is as follows: A trip, to -be presently described, located upon the pilot of the engine of an on-coming train, which under normal conditions would pass onto the siding, engages the hooked upper end of the trip 41 and this trip together with the arm 34 to which it is connected, is pulled with the train and a corresponding pull exerted upon the cable 29. This pull upon the cable 29 will serve to move the block 23 in the direction of the train and as this movement of the block serves to force the pairs of rollers 19 and 22 away from each other, the switch points are shifted to close the switch. Prior to this being accomplished however the lug 59 upon the under side of the block 23 engages the free end of the arm 56 and swings the arm resulting in the latch head 52 being disengaged from the notch 53 in the section 44 of the switch rod. This movement of the latch releases the rod and allows movement of the same independently of the section 47 thereof and permits the movement of the switch points described above. The cable 29 is pulled in the direction stated until the beveled ends of the aws 27 strike the guide 30 at which time the jaws will be spread owingto the wedge formation of the guide and the cable 29 will be disengaged from the jaws. It will be understood that the spring 26 is prior to this time compressed and that its compression serves to relieve to a considerable extent the tension upon the cable 29. When the switch is manually operated, either to close or open it after it has been closed, the casting 46 moves with the switch rod and a rocking movement is imparted to the arm 62 which movement of the arm will result in a pull being exerted upon the cable 65 to rock the angle arm 38 and to raise the arm 34 into position for engagement by another train, it being understood however that this arm, after being engaged by one train, has to be replaced and again connected with the rest of the mechanism before the device will again be operative. In order that the latch 52 may be held retracted after having cured upon the stem 51' and is provided with a shoulder 68 for engagement of the closed end of the tubular extension 49 in which the latch 52 works.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the wedge block 23 for moving the switch points is dispensed with and the spring device for securing this result, em ployed. This spring device is in the form of two or more studs 69 which are secured by means of nuts or otherwise to that switch point which is more removed from the switch stand and these studs extend through openings in the adjacent main track rail and into casings 70 which are secured upon the last mentioned rail and preferably to the outer face of the web thereof. These studs 69 are headed as at 71 and engaged upon the studs are springs 72 which when the switch points are moved to open the switch, are compressed and serve to move the points and close the switch when the points are released. Elements disclosed in this form of my invention and in these figures corresponding to elements in the form of my invention shown in the first four figures are indicated by the same reference numerals but with the addition of the suifix a. In this latter form of the invention the trip arm 34 is held raised in the same manner as the trip arm 34 in the first form of the invention and during the time that the switch is open. The trip 41 however is not positively engaged by the engine but is merely struck thereby and a cable 73' connected with one end of this trip 41 leads to the latch 51, the latch being in this manner adapted for retraction when the trip is struck. It will be understood of course that the arm 34 in this latter form of the invention has a fixed pivot, the cable 29 being omitted.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the wedge block 23 and its related parts are omitted as is also the latch 51 and its related parts. In this form of the invention elements which are identical with the elements in the first form of the invention are designated by the same reference numerals with the addition of the suffix b. In this latter form of the invention the casting 46 is also omitted and substituted therefor is an interiorly oppositely threaded sleeve 74 carrying a winding drum 75. of the switch rod is threaded in this instance as in the first described form of the invention and the section 44 of the switch rod is also threaded, the threaded ends of the two sections having a threaded engagement in the bore of the sleeve 74. It will be apparent that should the drum be rotated in one direction the switch rod sections will be moved away from each other longitudinally and the switch points correspondingly shifted to close the switch. In order that the drum may be so rotated, the cable 24 is wound upon the The section 47 drum and is adapted to be unwound therefrom when the trip on the engine engages the hooked end 42" of the trip 41 The section 47 of the switch rod is provided with an opening 76 into which a spring pressed latch 77 is designed to seat when the drum has been rotated so as to close the switch, this latch being key controlled and inclosed in a casing so as to be inaccessible. Connected to the cable 24 is a short cable 78 this cable being also connected to a wedge 79 which works in a slot 80 in a spring pressed latch 81 which also seats in an opening 82 in the section 44 of the switch rod, it being understood that this latch serves to hold the drum against rotation under normal conditions. However when a pull is exerted upon the cable 24 a corresponding pull is exerted upon the branch cable 78 and the wedge being pulled, raises the latch 81 from engagement in the opening 82 and allows unwinding of the cable 24 from the drum.

In Fig. 11 of the drawings there is shown a pilot 85 of an engine and the numeral 86 indicates a trip upon the pilot for engagement with the trip devices of the several forms of the mechanism heretofore described. In order that the block 23 embodied in the preferred form of the invention may be held in retracted position against manual movement to its normal position to permit resetting of the switch to the siding a leaf spring latch 87 is secured to the plate 18 adjacent the forward end thereof and has its free end turned upwardly as at 88. This spring normally bears at its said free end against the under side of the block 23 but when the block has been retracted by the pull exerted upon the cable 24, this latch 87 will spring into engagement behind the front end of the block and prevent its unauthorized rearward movement.

What is claimed, is

1. A switch operating mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination with a switch, a switch rod formed of two sections which are movable longitudinally with respect to each other, a latch engageable with one of the switch rod sections when the switch is in open position to hold the switch in the position stated, a trip device designed for engagement by a trip on an engine, connection between the trip device and the latch for disengaging the latter from the switch rod section when the trip is so engaged, a pair of rollers journaled upon fixed bearings, bearings carried by one of the switch rails and presented toward the last named rollers, rollers journaled in the bearings, a wedge block received between the two sets of rollers and adapted when moved in one direction to move the last named set from the first named set and to close the switch, and connection between the trip and the wedge block whereby the latter will be moved as stated when the trip is engaged by the trip on the engine.

2. A switch operating mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination with a switch, a switch rod formed of two sections one of which is movable longitudinally with respect to the other, a latch engageable with one of the switch rod sections when the switch is in open position For the purpose of holding the switch in such position, a trip device arranged for engagement by a trip on an engine, means operating to move the switch to closed position when the trip is so engaged, connection between the trip and the latch for disengaging the latter from the switch rod prior to movement of the switch, and means for holding said latch disengaged.

3. A switch operating mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination with a switch, a switch rod formed of two sections one of which is movable longitudinally with respect to the other, a latch engageable with the movable switch rod section when the switch is in open position for the purpose of holding the switch in such position, a mounting in which the latch works, a spring upon the latch for holding it in such engagement, a trip device arranged for engagement by a trip on an engine, means operating to move the switch to closed position when the trip is so engaged, connection between the trip and the latch for moving the latter against the tension of the spring and out of engagement of the switch rod sections prior to moving of the switch, and means carried by the latch and cooperating with its mounting for holding said latch disengaged.

4. A switch operating mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination with a switch, a switch rod formed of two sections one of which is movable longitudinally with respect to the other, a latch engageable with the movable switch rod sec tion when the switch is in open position for the purpose of holding the switch in such position, a mounting in which the latch works, a spring upon the latch for holding it in such engagement, a trip device arranged for engagement by a trip on an engine, means op' erating to move the switch to closed position when the trip is so engaged, connection between the trip and the latch for moving the latter against the tension of the spring and out of engagement of the switch rod sections prior to moving of the switch, and a spring catch carried by the latch and cooperating with its mounting for holding said latch disengaged.

5. A switch operating mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination with a switch, a switch rod formed of two sections one of which is movable longitudinally with respect to the other, a casing, fixed rollers journaled within the casing, rollers carried by the point of the switch and extending within the casing, a wedge engaged between the fixed rollers and the rollers carried by the switch point, a trip device, a flexible connection between the wedge and said trip device, a casing supported by the two switch rod sections and movable therewith, and means operable by the movement of said casing for setting said trip device. I

6. Aswitch operating mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination with a switch, a switch rod formed of two sections one of which is movable longitudinally with respect to the other, a casing, fixed rollers journaled within the casing, rollers carried by the point of the switch and extending within the casing, a wedge engaged between the fixed rollers and the rollers carried by the switch point, a trip device, a flexible connection between the wedge and'said trip device, a casing supported by the two switch rod sections and movable therewith, means operable by the movement ofsaid casing for setting said trip device, said means comprising a rocking arm engaged at one end with a casing for movement thereby, and a cable connecting the other end ofsaid arm and said trip device.

7. A switch operating mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination with a switch, means cooperating with the switch for moving the same, a bodily movable trip device, a cable connected to the first mentioned means, separable connection between the two cables, and a guide for the last mentioned cable, said guide serving to actuate said separable means upon operation of said trip device, the said trip device being designed to be carried bodily from its seat when engaged for actuation.

' 8. A switch operating mechanism ofthe class described comprising, in combination with a switch, a switch rod formed of two sections one ol which is movable longitudinally with respect to the other, a latch normally holding said movable section against movement independently of the other sec tion, a trip arm, means operating to disengage said latch from said switch rod section and subsequently to move said switch, means supporting said trip in raised position, and connection between the switch rod and the trip supporting means for controlling the latter.

In testimony whereof, I a'l'lix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN P. BLACKVOOD. lVitncsses H. L. WILSON, C. G. AMENDT. 

